Industry Full electric flying: EasyJet is taking big steps towards reducing carbon emissions

Since 2000, EasyJet has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre by over 32 percent. With full electric flying the airline wants to take reducing carbon and noise emissions in aviation to the next level.

The European carrier has partnered with the US start-up Wright Electric who have commenced work on an electric engine powerful enough to power a nine-seater aircraft. Axter Aerospace, partner of Wright Electric, developed an electrically powered two-seater aircraft which is already flying. The nine-seater Wright Electric is developing is expected to first take to the sky as early as 2019. The start-up has filed a patent for the motor of the nine-seater, a prototype propulsion system that is four times more powerful than the system installed on the two-seat aircraft.

So, is this development an indication that the transition towards an all-electric commercial passenger jet capable of flying passengers across EasyJet’s network is at hand? The airline expects this to be so. The target range of the electric plane is around 500 kilometres, EasyJet stated. Within the airline’s portfolio, the route from Amsterdam to London could therefore be the ideal test route for an electric ‘flyway’. Being the second busiest route in Europe durrently, flying the distance fully electric would mean a significant reduction in carbon and noise emissions.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of EasyJet, commented from Amsterdam-Schiphol:

“We know it is important to our customers that we operate sustainably and with the introduction of A320neos, we can already provide a 15% reduction in carbon emissions and 50% less noise footprint, putting us amongst the best-ranking airlines in Europe.

Looking forward, the technological advancements in electric flying are truly exciting and it is moving fast. From the two-seater aircraft, which is already flying, to the nine-seater which will fly next year, electric flying is becoming a reality and we can now foresee a future that is not exclusively dependent on jet fuel.”

Jeffrey Engler, CEO of Wright Electric, added:

“We are excited about what the next year holds. EasyJet has been a fantastic partner, and we look forward to helping introduce low-emissions low-noise aviation to Europe.”